The School Point of View Dr James Bonnyman Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The Faculty of Engineering

Topics for this session A bit about me Where does the exams officer ‘fit in’? Timeline for the academic year The exam board Post exam-board A question once asked (by a colleague) The exam board - do I need to be there? My views on our external examiners

A bit about me Graduate of Nottingham (UG & PhD) Joined the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1995 I became the Exams Officer (EO) in 2014 having supported the previous holders for a number of years In addition to running my own board, I also work with other EOs in my faculty & across the three campuses to process student marks Currently I chair my Faculty’s Assessment Committee I am also work with a number of colleagues across the University on exam related processes

Where does the exams officer ‘fit in’? The University Of Nottingham The Quality Manual Academic Processes EC Panel The Exams Officer External Examiners Academics Students Administrators

An Academic Year Timeline and Interactions

A timeline for a year As the timetable for the University is set years in advance we are able to start planning the dates/deadlines for an academic year Doing this in early September (before the start of the academic year) allows us to: Confirm dates with staff (for the production of papers, moderation etc.) Advise externals in good time when papers will be sent and when board will be taking place We can also revise the date around any existing commitments our externals may have

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Reassessment board 1st /2nd week in September: Some awards made (mostly progression decisions) Contact with our externals in this case is generally via Email. Dates for the forthcoming year agreed based on University calendar and distributed to staff

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Examination board for MSc courses Discussion with our externals about any changes that have been implemented for the current academic year These can arise from Course/Module reviews Comments in the examiner’s reports Changes in University Policies

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Exam papers are produced by module convenors Internal moderation of examination papers takes places Changes identified are made by the paper’s author Papers are formatted and combined with solutions for external moderation Papers and solutions are uploaded to secure web server Dates for paper moderation & exam boards distributed to external examiners

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Internally moderated examination papers for January made available to our externals on a secured web site We ask that papers are returned within two weeks (to allow time for any changes to be made and then to be uploaded to for printing) Module convenors review comments from the externals, signing off to indicate where these have been made

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Examination Period

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Internal examination boards (for quality purposes and to advice students on performance etc.). Late recommendations (MSc or UG Finalists) sent for approval

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Exam papers are produced by module convenors Internal moderation of examination papers takes places Changes identified are made by the paper’s author Papers are formatted and combined with solutions for external moderation Papers and solutions are uploaded to secure web server

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Internally moderated examination papers for May/June made available to our externals on a secured web site We ask that papers are returned within two weeks (to allow time for any changes to be made and then to be uploaded to for printing) Module convenors review comments from the externals, signing off to indicate where these have been made

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Examination Period

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Information pack for the Exam board sent to out externals, this includes Travel arrangements Copies of the current programme specifications (+web link) Details of the current regulations (web link) Details of Individual module specifications (web link) Guidance on the University’s External Examiner process, including links to the report form and expenses claims (web link) A map of the University Park campus. (pdf + web link) The School’s response to the previous External Examiner’s report.

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep List of students for Viva examination provided to Externals along with samples of their work (generally a copy of the final year project thesis)

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is Note: We look at this in more detail in later slides

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep External Examiner’s report received by the Department Department’s Response to the External Examiner’s report submitted to the University (I aim to do this within one week of receipt).

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Reassessment Examination Period

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Reassessment board 1st /2nd week in September: Some awards made (mostly progression decisions) Contact with our externals in this case is generally via Email. Dates for the forthcoming year agreed based on University calendar and distributed to staff and our external examiners.

The Exam Board Week A look in detail

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug. Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

A timeline for a year Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Formal Examination Board Week, for our externals the typical agenda is

The exam board: Attendance The exam board is attended by Our external examiners All UK academics from the department EOs from the China and Malaysia Campuses Administrative support staff

The exam board: Agenda The standard agenda is (taken from 2017) Apologies and introductions Response to External Examiners Reports from previous academic session Module Averages UK Undergraduate results UK MSc results Ningbo Campus (UNNC) results Malaysia Campus (UNMC) results Report from External Examiners AOB

An interesting question…. A question once asked (by a colleague) “The exam board - do I need to be there?” This came about after a discussion about how much of the could be seen ‘simply’ as the application of regulations as… Module marks & averages are presented Progression/Award (+possible promotion) decisions approved Promotions to higher awards approved based on regulations. So why be there?

The External Examiner’s report In addition to the feedback provided in the exam board we also receive a formal review of the processes (which I know is reviewed by Sarah) We (I) write a response which is passed to Student Services (development) and Quality and Standards for review This report provides valuable feedback for the department, always supportive and aimed to help support the department in its teaching & quality The report also allows us to (if required) make deputation to the University where our externals have identified areas that may require changes at a central level

My views on our external examiners I genuinely believe that to me, my department (staff and students) and the university that our external examiners are a huge asset. Personally I see them as a ‘honest friend’, challenging us to meet the highest standard, ensuring that we challenge ourselves to provide the best for the students we teach.

Thank you very much for your for your attention If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them now or over a coffee/tea